Sociology is a complex but very enjoyable subject to study. It compliments well with Psychology, History, Communication & Culture and Media to name a few areas of academic study.

This presentation is designed to give its audience a brief outline of what it is, without getting bogged down in minute detail.

Sociology is the study of all societies and cultures.

It is the examination of its people and the social institutions they inhabit.

For example, family, education, religion, work etc.

It is the study of the relationship between people and these institutions and the behavioural and social impact each have on the other.

Sociology as a discipline has been around a while now, since around the Enlightenment period where science over religion became our source of knowledge in the Western world.

To understand where we are today we can examine the past. Of course not all social behaviour is homogenous; not only do periods time provide opportunities for understanding social existence but so do different cultures.

Whilst this has psychological direction, as sociologists we examine the social construction of behaviour.

In particular notions of what we consider 'normal' or 'traditional' or even 'right'.

Only by critically examining social behaviours can we begin to understand their impact; rarely do relationships between people provide equality.

Social groups face socially constructed attitudes of what is 'right' or 'wrong' / 'acceptable' or unacceptable' with how they behave and with their relationship to the wider social 'norm'.

With such attitudes of a majority towards a minority, come unequal relationships defined by power.

Sociological research provides insight and with this comes a greater understanding of human relationships.

Without such research we would not know for example about the complex relationships within the school classroom that can affect the educational attainment working class boys for example, or we would not know about and understand the various reasons for the huge increase in divorce rate and the social impact these have had upon the nuclear family.

Sociology is very much like psychology in that it based upon theoretical positioning e.g. Marxism, Feminism, Post Modernism as well as concepts e.g. dual earner family, gendered division of labour and night time economy for example.

However, sociology is the study of society (remember?) therefore can be applied to the 'real world' and it is this I believe that makes the subject particularly approachable.

Sociology examines both the structural influences on people (macro) as well as the minute individual interactions between people (micro).

It is only when we understand something i.e. the relationship between groups of people, can we then address any social problems faced (e.g. racism, sexism, ageism etc.).

Sociological research is not just for academic purposes; it has particular influence upon social policy and law.

Sociology is for everyone and through it, I believe is an opportunity for personal growth and a greater awareness of one's social position.